How to help

Homefront America is always looking for volunteers and donations. To get involved, contact the group at 949-248-9468. The office is at 31877 Del Obispo St., Suite 101, in San Juan Capistrano.

This year's Thanksgiving is the first time in three years Christine Gonzalez and her four children will spend a holiday with her husband.

Jeffrey, a Marine, has been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

And because of a local organization dedicated to helping military families, Gonzalez didn't have to waste time fighting grocery store lines and navigating a long shopping list. She joined hundreds of other military families Monday to collect one of about 1,000 turkeys distributed to north Camp Pendleton residents.

The turkey giveaway, funded by $25,000 in donations to the San Clemente Military Family Outreach, is among Orange County charities and programs supporting south Orange County's closest neighbors: the 40,000 to 50,000 Marines at Camp Pendleton.

Some volunteers fix turkey dinners with all the trimmings for Marines and their families. Others help cook, shop and clean.

Marines not interested in hosting their own dinner can find a place to go, thanks to a San Juan Capistrano organization that pairs military members with families.

“You're thousands of miles away from home. Everybody's celebrating with their families and friends, and you're in some single barrack?” said Mamie Maywhort, co-founder of Homefront America. “That can get a little bit lonely.”

More than 300 families answered San Juan Capistrano's request that they volunteer to host Marines this year. Just 11 Marines needed placement.

“I'm sure the host families were disappointed, but this is actually a really good thing, knowing that most of the Marines have somewhere special to spend the holidays and now these 11 will also,” said city spokeswoman Cathy Salcedo.

Kim McCarthy expects about 20 Marines to join her family at her San Juan home today.

She and her husband began hosting military members after meeting the Maywhorts about five years ago.

“Those two people have brought Camp Pendleton to San Juan,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy first hosted a couple of Marines for Easter dinner several years ago.

Soon, she was organizing gatherings for dozens of Marines who have become almost like a second family.

And it's not just on holidays. McCarthy often hosts summer barbecues, fall football-watch parties and other casual gatherings throughout the year.

Laguna Niguel Boy Scouts in Troop 772 came out as volunteers to help distribute 1,000 turkey dinners on Monday morning. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Lilly Lyons, 5, along with her mom, Cammy Lyons, accepts a frozen turkey for a military family at Camp Pendleton on Monday morning. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Becky and Alex Clark, 5, were the first in line on Monday morning arriving at 7 a.m. Alex says her favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is getting to eat turkey. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Jozie Rodas, 4, of San Clemente looks over the pumpkin pies before selecting one to take home on Monday morning at Camp Pendleton. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Nicole Taylor, along with Easton, 3, and Kaeden, 15 months, stands with Marines and San Onofre Girl Scout volunteers from Troop 3034 after receiving her turkey dinner on Monday morning. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
The San Clemente Military Family Outreach hosted their annual turkey dinner give away on Monday morning for 1,000 families from San Onofre and San Mateo Military housing. Meals were assembled and given out Boy Scout Troop 772 from Laguna Niguel, Girl Scout Troop 3034 from San Onofre along with volunteers from the Saddleback Community Church Youth Group. The meals, made to feed a family of four, came with all the fixings including a 12 pound turkey, stuffing, string beans, cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Becky and Alex Clark, 5, were the first in line on Monday morning arriving at 7 a.m. Alex says her favorite part of the Thanksgiving holiday is getting to eat turkey. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER
Alison Gregg of Laguna Niguel, right, places a box of turkey stuffing mix into a grocery bag of Thanksgiving food held by Lisa Payne of San Juan Capistrano. Volunteers from Homefront America packed over 200 grocery bags to be distributed to members of the military and their families for Thanksgiving. BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Madison Baba of Laguna Niguel ties a ribbon onto a gift bag, the final touch before the bag will be delivered to the child of a member of the military for the holidays. BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Patty Pourzhanjani of San Juan Capistrano places a toy periscope into one of more than 500 gift bags to be given to the children of active military members for the holidays. BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Thanksgiving dinner groceries were packed into more than 200 bags to be distributed to active members in the military. BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jeni Greene of Aliso Viejo packs gift bags into a box that will be distributed to children of members of the military for the holidays. BLAINE OHIGASHI, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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